PITTSBURGH — A New Jersey state trooper shoplifted gun accessories and attempted to get out of his arrest by telling a Pennsylvania police officer that he would lose his job as a member of Gov. Chris Christie's security detail if charges were filed, a police chief told The Associated Press today.

Trooper William Carvounis, 35, of North Brunswick, was at a Cabela's sporting goods store on Jan. 8 when he put several items in his cargo pants pockets — including some handgun grips, a pistol magazine and a hat — and put a $29.99 binocular strap in a box for a product worth $19.99, according to a criminal complaint filed by Tilden Officer Dennis Schwoyer.

While Carvounis paid for some items at checkout, he allegedly did not pay for the concealed items, which were worth $267.38.

The trooper, who makes, $95,198 a year — plus another $16,000 for meals, uniform cleaning and other allowances, was seen stealing on surveillance cameras in the Hamburg, Pa. store, the report said.

Schwoyer filed the charges after Carvounis repeatedly asked for a break, McEllroy told the AP.

"It was, more or less, 'Look, I've got a good job, I'm on the governor's security detail, I don't want to lose my job,' along those lines," McEllroy said.

Carvounis didn't explicitly ask for the break because of his position on the governor's detail; it was "more or less one cop asking another cop for a break multiple times," McEllroy said. He noted that his department's policy forbids such special treatment.

The trooper's attorney, Charles Sciarra, said his client denies he sought special treatment and the underlying shoplifting charges.

Sciarra emailed the Star-Ledger a statement disputing the allegations.

"There is nothing in the police reports or initial paperwork about my client attempting to obtain a courtesy or invoking his assignment within the State Police," Sciarra wrote in the email. "Further, he was not charged with such an offense in his State Police suspension paperwork. Trooper Carvounis denies the shoplifting allegations and looks forward to his day in court."

Sciarra confirmed that Carvounis has been suspended from his job.

Carvounis is charged with two counts of retail theft, online court records show. One is a first-degree misdemeanor that can carry up to five years' in prison, and the other a summary offense, which is similar to a traffic ticket.

The trooper remained free on bond today, and court records show he has waived his right to a preliminary hearing, meaning the charges must be disposed of at a trial or through a plea in Berks County Common Pleas Court.

The Associated Press and Star-Ledger staff writer Jeff Goldman contributed to this report.